BOYS HOOPS: Eisenhower suffers first region loss

January 6, 2014

Eisenhower dropped its first Region 3 matchup of the season on Saturday night, falling at home to Cochranton, 57-35.

The two teams entered the match as the only remaining Region 3 teams without a loss. The Cardinals (8-2 overall) now stand alone atop the region with a 4-0 mark, while the Knights (6-3) see their region record fall to 2-1.

Cochranton took control of the game early on, using a 6-0 run midway through the first quarter to jump out to a 12-4 lead over the Knights, who never led in the game.

Article Photos

Times Observer photo by Jonathan McAfoosAll angles coveredEisenhower players (from left to right) Tre Frank, Chris Sanders and Casey Vincent all close in on a Cochranton player as he hauls in a rebound on Saturday night. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead and never trailed, defeating the Knights 57-35.

Times Observer photo by Jonathan McAfoosFinding spaceEisenhower’s Jarrett Johnson looks for an open teammate while being closely guarded by a Cochranton player during the Knights’ Saturday night game at Eisenhower High School. Johnson finished with eight points, but the Knights took their first Region 3 loss of the season, 57-35.

The Cardinals then continued to increase their lead, capitalizing on several Ike turnovers to open the second quarter on a 10-2 run, and would take a 28-14 lead into halftime.

Eisenhower continued to struggle with turnovers throughout the second half, and Cochranton also dominated the glass, scoring several second-chance points. A 13-4 Cochranton run to begin the half effectively put the game out of reach for the Knights.

The two teams played to an even 13-13 score in the final quarter, as both coaches went deep into their bench.

Tre Frank finished as the leading scorer for the Knights, with 12 points. Jarrett Johnson added eight.

"(Cochranton) is a good team," Eisenhower coach Dave Allenson said. "They're all big, they can all dribble, and they can all shoot. We didn't play our game tonight, and you have to play your game to beat a team like that."

The Knights were playing the second game of a back-to-back, and the fatigue may have had an impact on their play.

"I do think we were a little tired," Allenson said. "We're not usually that sloppy with the ball."

Eisenhower's junior varsity team also fell in its match, 62-14. Grant Venman was the leading scorer with five points.

The Knights only have one day to rest before jumping right back into the action, as they travel to North Clarion on Monday.